Chatbots, Media, and Mental Health

With the rise in the use of “AI” chatbots and the persistent presence of social media, the use of language learning models (LLM) have been increasing due to its ease of access. Particularly, teens and young adults have turned to these LLMs as a form of digital support during times of mental health crises. This novel digital landscape has evolved rapidly to the point of becoming companions for many individuals outside of homework help and voice assistants. Instead, these companions are chatbots that can be talked to like a friend or even emulate characters that you can talk to.

In a survey conducted by Common Sense Media, teens were asked about their frequency of AI companion usage. The survey results indicate that 72% of teens have used AI companions. However, this study shows the nuance in teens and their relationship with AI where younger teens (13-14) tend to trust AI companion advice more than older teens (15-17). Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among those ages 15 to 29 years as stated in a study published by Stanford. Due to fear of negative stigma, individuals are more wary of disclosing suicidal ideation, leading to the seek for anonymous assessment.

While there are positive outcomes of readily available support, participants in the study reported that they felt dependent on the AI companion for their mental health. Safeguards implemented by tech companies can often be unreliable by restructuring prompts. To test the safety of chatbots, researchers from Center for Countering Digital Hate inputted multiple prompts simulating mental health crises while posing as teens. They found that they were able to circumvent guardrails implemented, which resulted in receiving self-harm advice from the bot.

So how do we prevent this? Across the different sources, it was suggested to implement stricter regulatory frameworks and age restrictions. As professionals and adults, we need to be more present in the lives of teens and young adults as we all continue to navigate this new era of technology.

Want more information on how to keep your teen and young adults safe? Attend Connect-OC’s in-person coalition meeting on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 - 9:00AM - 12:00PM. We are honored to welcome Clayton Cranford, a nationally recognized cyber safety expert, retired law enforcement professional, and founder of Cyber Safety Cop and Total Safety Solutions LLC as our featured speaker.

Register here

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